Type-writer.



No. 680,55l. Patented Aug. l3, I90I.

- A. w. STEIGER.

TYPE WRITER. A umion filed Aug. 20, 1900. (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

WIt 555125. I Imlaqtur:

TH: nonrus vn'sns co. moroumo. wuwumun. n, c.

4 Sheets-Shoat 2.

Patented Aug. l3, l90l.

A. W. STEIGER.

TYPE wnmzn (Application filed Aug- QO, 1900.)

No. 680,55l.

(No Model.)

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. Patented Aug. l3, I90l. A'. W. STEIGER.

TYPE wmm'z,

(Application flied Aug. 20, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Shoot 3.

(No Model.)

No. 680,551. Patented Aug. l3, l90l. A. W. STEIGER.

TYPE WRITER.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1900.)

4 SheetsSheet 4.

(No Model.)

lnver tu UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

ANDREW WV. STEIGER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,- TO AUGUSTUS L. HOFFMAN, FREDERIO S. CONVERSE, AND FREDERIO .LLEAOlI, TRUSTEES, OF LYONS, NEl/V YORK.

' TYPE-WRITER.

SPEGEFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,551, dated August 13, 1901.

Application filed August 20,1900. Serial No. 27,424. (No model.)

T aZZ 1072,0122 it ma concern: lack applicability to many machines. I have Be it known that I, ANDREW \V. STEIGER, designed devices which are generally appliacitizen of the United States, residingiu Boscable to most machines, and in preventing ton,in the county of Suffolk and State of Masdamage to the sheet while the carriage is sachusetts, have invented certain new and lockedare specially adapted to the Jackson useful Improvements in Type-Writers,'of type mechanism; and the invention consists which the following, taken in connection with in attaching to the feed-drum a controlling the accompanying drawings,isaspecification. surface adjustable with relation to the car- My invention in type-writers relates to deriage for stopping the same at the desired 10 vices for stopping the carriage at a predeterpoint of travel and at the same time inter- 6o mined point of its travel and at the same time rupting the action of the keys on the type interrupting the action of the printing mechmechanism, the device having connections anism, often referred to as a right-hand with the manual'sothe operator may restore margin or line-locking mechanism, but the parts to normal condition. In an in- [5 the device may also be used for a left-hand stance in which I have carried the invention margin for tabulating, andis particularly useinto effect I have attached to the feed-drum ful for this latter purpose, if the machine be a disk having a notch with a sloping side and of the old-fashioned type with the printingan abrupt side. The notch is normally covered pointinvisible. It often happens that a word by a spring-positioned guard, Whose edge is 20 or syllable will be begun near the end of a substantially coincident with the edge of the line and there is not sufficientdistance to disk and havinga notch as deep as the notch finish. The operator may not become aware in the disk, that is normally positioned just of the matter till theletters are piled on each over' the sloping part of the notch in the said other in the last space, or at least some letter disk. The abrupt side of the disks notch in of the syllable printed that will require eraconnection with a stop is intended to prevent sure and perhaps ruin the sheet. Devices of the further motion of the feed-drum,and therethis nature are intended to prevent anyprintby releases the tension of the feed-spring ining or carriage movement beyond the limit closed in the feed-drum on the carriage. The set by the operator, unless the operator by feed-drum is adjustably connected with the 30 doing somethingspecial enables the meohansliding carriage by a cord, so that the notch on ism to respond in the usual manner. There the disk may be located with relation to the are a number of machines having mechanism carriage travel-as, for example, so that the of measurable success adapted to the particnotch shall'be under the feed-drum pivot when ular machine for locking the carriage, and the carriage has reached the point beyond 35 in some instances devices of somewhat more which no more characters are desired. I ardoubtful utility for blocking the keys, so as range across the machinearock-shaft and proto prevent printing. Of course if the keys or ject from this shaft an arm having atits end a type-bars are locked they must take the full roll which is maintained in contact with the force of the operators perhaps rather vigoredge of the disk by devices to be described.

40 ous stroke, and, depending on the place of the Two rockers,also projecting from the shaft,are o obstruction, which may be anywhere from each connected with spring-sustained levers the key to the type, the mechanism from the pivoted at one end on a fixed part of the masaid' obstruction back to the key must sustain chine and carrying at the other end a typethe stress of the stroke with consequent iucontrolling bar. These parts are arranged so 45 jury to the parts aifected. The devices for that normally the controlling-bar is depressed 5 locking the carriage are in several cases a by the concentric surface of the disk forcing distinct feature, for the application of which the arm downward, thus causing the rockers an additional charge is made. Others may reto hold the levers carrying the controlling-bar quire the use of some tool for adjustment to down against the stress of their springs. The

the particular use required, and a fair share type are operated through a system of bellcranks pivoted to a fixed part of the machine,

' and the key-levers'move the bell-cranks by means of spring-pawls carried by levers pivoted to the bell-cranks and connected with the levers by links. The spring-pawls normally latch over projecting arms of the bellcranks; but as the carriage advances the roll of the arm attached to the rock-shaft comes in contact with a slightly-projecting portion of the spring-guard for the disk positioned just beyond the beginning of the slopingpart of the notch in the disk and moves the guard on the disk till the notch in the guard registers with the deep portion of the notch in the disk and then snaps into the registering notches because of the tension of the springs attached to the levers of the type-controller bar, thus locating the type-controller bar just in contact with the spring-pawls, so that any further motion of the pawls or controller-bar may turn either a single pawl or all of the pawls on their pivots. Now if the operator should strike a character-key the pawl connected with that key would turn on its pivot and unlatching the bell-crank allow the keylever to make its usual motion but have no eifect on the type which is connected beyond the bell-crank. As the carriage has been moving only single spaces the carriage is located, as usual, by the feed-dog of the spacing mechanism, but is not locked thereby in the direction of the feed and might be moved by either the space-bar or carriage-release key. To further insure the location of the carriage, I pivot to the trunnion-rail a stop that tends, owing to an attached spring, to move toward the carriage-rack and connect it with the arm extending from the rock-shaft that is positioned by the edge of the disk. Ordinarily the disk holds the stop down out of contact with the rack; but when the roll snaps into the not ches the stop is put in contact with the rack to thereby lock the carriage. To permit the operator to feed the carriage farther, there is secured to the rock-shaft a short crank connected with a restoring-lever having a key in the manual which when depressed removes the roll from the notchesin the disk and guard, when the guard at once snaps back, covering the notch in the disk, at the same time depressing the type-controller bar, so the type may again operate. WVhile the roll is in the notches, the operator may pull the carriage back toward the beginning of a line and restore the parts to normal condition, as the feed-drum and its attached disk in revolving on their pivot will force the roll out of the notch in the disk up the sloping side of the notch to the edge of the disk, the further motion of the drum and disk permitting the spring-guard to again cover the notch in the disk.

It should be understood that the invention comprehends a mechanism in which the controlling-bar when placed in active position nnlatches all the connections between the type bars and keys or distinct controlling devices unlatch a particular type-bar, as well as a structure in which the controlling-bar takes a position such that an attempt to operate any type-bar shall act to unlatch that particular key.

The invention comprises, further, devices and their combinations, which I shall endeavor to more fully and specifically set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan ota type-writer. Fig. 2 is a central section of a type-writer; Fig. 3, a cross-section of a typewriter at line X X, Fig. 1, showing parts connected with this invention. Fig. 4: is a detached view similar to Fig. 2 to more clearly depict certain connections. Fig. 5 is a detail. Fig. 6 is a view similar to 2, but with some parts in changed relation. Fig. 7 is a partial view similar to Fig. 3, having the parts as in Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged details of the ordinary left hand margin stops. Fig. 10is an enlarged section of Fig. 5.

The carriage 1 is mounted to slide along a fixed rod 2 and the shifting guide-rail 3 and carries the platen past the common printingpoint of the type by reason of the tension of a coiled spring inclosed in the feed-drum 4., which is connected bya cord 5, running over a fair leader 6, attached to some portion of the carriage, and thence adjustably secured by a clip 7 to the back rail 8 of the carriage. This adjustment is not intended to regulate the feed tension but is peculiar to the pur poses of this invention. The feed-tension adjustment is of any usual construction, as the ratchet 9,secured to the adjusting knurled stud 10, which is pivoted in a bracket attached to the frame of the machine, the position of' the ratchet being determined by a pallet 11, pivoted to a fixed part of the machine. Now as the stud 10 and ratchet 9 are connected to one end of the coiled feed-spring and the feed-drum 4 to the other end of said spring the tension of the carriage is due to the pull of this spring, which may be increased by turning the knurled stud 10 or decreased by vibrating the pallet 11, which permits the teeth to escape one at a time. The carriage is advanced step by step by alternately inserting and withdrawing the normally spring-inserted feed-dog 12 from the rack 13 of the carriage, the carriage being held while the feed-dog is withdrawn by the normally-withdrawn check-dog l4as, for example, through the yoke 15, attached to the support of thedogs and spring-connected to the universal plate 16, which may be tilted about its pivot 17 by the arm 18 of the bell-crank 19, which is pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine. Levers 20, pivoted on the bell-crank, support a pivoted pawl 21, which latches over an arm 22 of the bellcrank and may be actuated by a key-lever 23, connected by link 2% with the levers 20 to tilt the universal plate 16 and through the above-described connections actuate the dogs,

'or the space-bar lever 25, connected by the strap 26 with the hook 27, attached to the universal plate 16, may also actuate the feed dogs to advance or locate the carriage. Gonnected with the bell-crank 19 is a spring-controlled driving-lever 28 to operate the type 29, which normally rests against an ink-pad 30. The carriage is limited for the usual left-hand margin by a segmental sleeve 31, splined to the fixed rod 2 and positioned thereon by a set-screw 32, threaded in the sleeve, and the indentations 33 in the rod 2.

For determining the right-hand margin or line-lock and to at the same time interrupt the printing devices I secure a disk 34 to the feed-drum 4, having a notch with an abrupt side 35 and a sloping side 36, which notch is normally covered by a spring controlled guard 37, pivoted on an outturned ring 38 from the spring-drum against the face of the disk 34. The guard is limited in its movement to cover or expose the notch 35 by the ends of the slot 39 or notch 40 coming in contact with the screws 41 threaded in the drum, and the guard is normally positioned by a spring-loop 42, the extremities of which rest against the ends 43 or 44 of the ring 38 and extending beyond touch the ends 45 or 46 of a notch in the guard-bearing. Near the disk 34 I pivot a rock-shaft 47 across the machine and extend therefrom an arm having a roll 48 into contact with the edge of the disk, about under the center thereof. I also locate on the rock-shaft rockers 49, connected by links 50 with levers 51, supported by springs 52 on knife-edges at their extremities, the levers carrying a type-controlling bar 53,shaped to conform to the style of mechanism to be governed, in this case forming the segment of a circle. The type-controlling bar swings in a path which includes the toes 54 of the pawls 21; but ordinarily it is held down out of contact therewith by the edge of the disk 34. There is also attached to the rock-shaft a short crank 55, connected by a link 56 with the restoring key-lever 57, provided with a key 58 in the manual. On the trunnion-rail 59 is fastened a bracket 60, in which is pivoted a stop 61, connected by a link 62 with the arm from the rock-shaft carrying the roll 48. The stop 61 is furnished with a spring 63, that tends to move the end of the stop into the path of the carriage-rack 13; but the stop is normally depressed by the edge of the disk 34. The drawings show the .clip 7 clamped to the back rail 8, so as to permit the carriage to travel but a portion of the line before it will be stopped and theprinting interrupted. The position of the clip 7 from the left end of the carriage determines the distance that the notch 35 in the disk can revolve before it comes beneath the feed-drum pivot, when the roll 48, snapping into the notch, disables the machine. From the beginning of a line till this occurs if the operator touches a symbolkey the lever 23 is depressed and through the link 24 pulls down the levers 20, which carry the pawl 21. The pawl 21 is normally in contact with the arm 22 of the bell-crank 19, and

hence as the latter is rocked turns the driving-lever 28 to lift the type 29 from the pad 30 to make an impression. As the bell-crank rocks the arm 18 comes in contact with the universal plate 16 and tilts it on its pivot 17 and through the spring connection with the yoke 15 pulls the feed-dog 12 from the rack 13, which is momentarily held by the checkdog 14, and as the parts connected with the universal plate 16 resume their normal position the feed-dog enters the next tooth of the rack to hold the carriage in its new position. These usual motions of the machine continue, and at each stroke the feed-drum moves in the direction of the arrow, in time fetching the portion 64 of the guard 37 in contact with the roll 48, the friction of which will drag the guard over the face of the disk 34 till the notch 65 registers with the abrupt side of the notch in the disk 34, so that the roll 48 may snap into the notches and stop the motion of the feed-drum 4. During this motion of the guard, which is rendered more certain by having the part 64 of the guard overlap the sloping part 36 of the disk, the end 46 of the notch in the guard 37 strains the spring 42 against the end 43 of the ring 38. When the roll snaps into thenotches, the springs 52 pull the levers 51 upward, lifting the typecontrolling bar 53 into contact with the toe 54 of the pawls 21. Of course as the parts connected with the universal plate 16 resume normal position after the stroke which effects the changes just described the feed-dog 12 holds the carriage in position, as usual. Now if a symbol-key is touched the link 24, pulling on the levers 20, turns the pawl 21 on its pivot, as the toe 54 rests on the controllingbar 53 and disconnects the pawl 21 from the arm 22 of the bell-crank, and no effect is produced either on the type 29 or the feed-dog 12, thus retaining the carriage in position with the paper unblemished. However, if the operator should unintentionally touch the space-bar as its lever 25 connects directly with the universal plate by the strap 26 and hook 27 the carriage might be advanced a space, as there may be some elasticity in the cord connecting the drum and carriage, and to guard against this, so as to insure the linelock, when the roll 48 enters the notches it permits the spring 63 to throw the stop 61 into the rack 13, and thereby positively locks the carriage. If the operator wishes to make more characters on this line, the key 58 is .depressed, and through the lever 57, link 56,

and crank 55 turns the rock-shaft and withdraws the roll 48 from the notch 35, when the guard 37, under tension of the spring 42, at

once covers the notch 35 with the portion 66,

put in motion, and the link 62 pulls the stop 61 from the rack 13, releasing the carriage. If the operator instead of going ahead returns the carriage to the starting-point, the

the notch 65 of the guard of the roll 48 the stress of the spring-loop 42 restores the guard to its position, covering the notch in the disk 3i. If the device were to be used for a lefthand margin, the operator would, after writing the matter for the first column, feed the carriage till it should be locked by the device, release it with the restoring-key, and proceed with the matter for the next column.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In atype-writer, a notched disk connected with the spring-drum, combined with a springpositioned guard having portions adapted to cover shallow or deep parts of the notch in the disk in certain positions of the guard and a notch in the guard that may register with the deep part of the notch in the disk, substantially as described.

2. In a type-Writer, the combination with a feed-drum having a disk with a notched edge, of a movable arm positioned by the edge of the disk, a pivoted controller-bar normally depressed by connections with the arm and springs attached to the bar to force the arm into the notch to remove the tension of the drum on its carriage and at the same time to lift the bar into position to unlatch pawls connecting the keys to the type-levers, substantially as described.

3. In a type-Writer, a carriage adjustably connected with a feed-drum, a rack on the carriage registering with a stop, and means controlled by a surface on the feed-drum for interlocking the stop with the said rack, substantially as described.

4. In a type-writer, a carriage adjustably connected with a feed-drum, a rack on the carriage and stops controlled by a surface on the feed-drum to stop the carriage, combined with means controlled by the operator to restore the parts to normal condition, substantially as described.

5. In a type-writer, a rock-shaft, an arm attached thereto extending into contact with the edge of a notched disk on the tension device for the carriage, a connection from the arm to a stop pivoted on some part of the ma chine fixed as to the feeding motion of the carriage, a rack on the carriage in the path of the stop, springs having connections with the rock-shaft to hold the arm to the disk so that when the arm enters the notch to arrest the drum the stop will contact with the rack to position the carriage and a releasing-lever connected with the rock-shaft to restore the parts, substantially as described.

6. In a type-writer, the combination with a feed-drum, a disk on the drum having a notch in its edge and a spring-positioned guard for the notch, of a rock-shaft, an arm fast with the shaft in contact with the edge of the disk, resilient connections to position the arm to stop the drum and a key in the manual having connections adapted to pull the arm out of the notch so the guard may resume its normal position permitting rotation of the drum substantially as described.

7. In a movable member for unlatching the keys of type-writers, levers having pivot-bearings, combined with a controller-bar shaped to contact with the key-pawls, substantially as described.

8. In a type-writer, devices for locking the carriage at a determinate point of its travel, combined with means for preventing the keys from operating the type-bars without interfering with the usual motion of the said keys, substantially as described. 9. In a type-writer, the combination with means for stopping the carriage at some definite point, of a suitably-operated controllerbar, to disconnect the keys from the typeoperating mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of December, A. D. 1899.

ANDREXV I/V. STEIGER.

Witnesses:

J OHN B. DALEY, A. O. ORNE. 

